There is a lot of change happening for CK United, the former Carlow Kilkenny FC.
Along with the rebrand, they have now included an under-19 men’s team in the national league.
See also: Farewell to Carlow Kilkenny FC, hello CK United as club complete rebrand
However speaking to the Director of Football at the club, Shane Dunphy, it wasn’t the only possible change on the cards with confirmation that an application went into the League of Ireland to have a senior team included for next season;
“We did apply, but obviously we were unsuccessful, Kerry got it ahead of us, probably rightly so. Disappointing still but we are not going to stop.”
“Every decision we make now is all with one thing in mind, having two first teams, within the next couple of years. Hopefully within the next twelve months.”
See also: Potential LOI club possibly coming to Kilken….oh it’s Kerry.
A much-touted League of Ireland third division would bring a new chance at a viable club for the men’s, while a Women’s National League side looks like a cert to happen, filling a gap created by Kilkenny United’s absence. The question remains though where will the side play? Recently the club has moved from Derdimus, a stone’s throw away from Buckley Park, to The Watershed. It looks like the Watershed is here to stay for the foreseeable, but Buckley Park is never far from the clubs thoughts;
“Buckley Park, everyone wants to get that up and going. That is the aim”
“We have done a deal with The Watershed in very recent times, that is just about finished. The third division needs less than what the first division needs, temporary stands, dugouts, and turnstiles are really all that’s needed. So at the moment, The Watershed will be the home. “
Buckley Park, Kilkenny laying in ruins. What an absolute shame, shameful in fact that it has been left to rot. Previously home to EMFA and Kilkenny City and six Ireland U21 international games. 🟡⚫
— Éire Guide (@eireguide) November 30, 2022
📷 Jason O'Brien pic.twitter.com/SamGsIj1S4
See also: Buckley Park a shadow of its former self following years of lying idle
Buckley Park, the former home of EMFA and then Kilkenny City, was the heartbeat of soccer in Kilkenny for so long. Recent photos emerged of it in less than ideal condition, however, Shane Dunphy says the stadium is in not in as bad of a state as the pictures suggest, albeit a lot of work needs to be done to get it up to standard;
“Why wouldn’t Buckley Park in three or four years’ time be the aim? I was out there quite recently, it is not in that bad of a condition. I know the pictures on social media don’t do it great justice. A couple of volunteers, a weekend cleaning, a few new windows, and a few new portacabins.”
“I remember playing there myself, it is a fantastic stadium. It is a crying shame, we have to put pressure on local communities, local council, and of course the FAI. We should not have a stadium like that in Ireland, where we are calling out for top-class stadiums. “
“A lot of people would love to see it back.”
Listen back to the full interview on Scoreline Extra below:
